Category: Faculty/Staff

UW-Green Bay has named Reed Robelot its next head swimming and diving coach, Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie has announced. Robelot joins the Phoenix following a successful five-year stint as an assistant coach with ACC member Virginia Tech, where he helped the Hokies to three-consecutive top-25 finishes for both the men’s and the women’s teams. Robelot takes over from Jim Merner, who announced his retirement on May 8 to cap a successful 25-year career. For more on the coach.

When David Masephol had the opportunity to buy a utilities company in rural Alaska, he thought his limited business knowledge crippled his chances. Then, after meeting with counselor Chuck Brys at the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Green Bay, he realized his dream might be possible. Masephol’s company, Circle Telephone & Electric LLC, provides telephone and electric service to a small native village named Circle, Alaska. It is located at the end of the Alaskan Highway on the banks of the Yukon River, seventy miles below the Arctic Circle. “I rely on him,” Masephol says of Brys. This client success story is featured at the state SBDC website.

Instructors from UW-Green Bay Public Safety are planning a free self-defense workshop for faculty and staff on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Kress Event’s Center Special Events Room. The session is limited to 16 participants, so reserve your place in advance; you will be notified of your acceptance. This hands-on training event provides basic instruction to include knee and elbow strikes, kicks and more. New from past sessions: additional ground defense techniques have been added. This class includes physical activity and participants are encouraged to wear workout type of clothing. Participants will have the opportunity at the end of the training to participate in training exercises to see how they handle an “attack” with the new skills they have learned. Advance registration via email is required, and a waiver must be signed, to be provided at the time of training. To sign up, email Officer Chad Kleman.

Jeanne Stangel, a longtime UW-Green Bay administrator, will be leaving the University to accept a newly created position with Notre Dame de La Baie Academy in Green Bay. Stangel starts Aug. 3 as Notre Dame’s vice president for institutional advancement. She will direct fundraising, strategic initiatives and communication, and serve additionally as the Roman Catholic high school’s director of athletics. “I am thrilled and excited by this opportunity,” Stangel said. “NDA is very well respected in this community and exemplifies the highest standards in helping its students excel in faith, academics, athletics and extracurricular development.” At UW-Green Bay, Stangel serves as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and President of the UW-Green Bay Foundation, Inc. A member of the institution’s executive team, she oversees the University’s fundraising, alumni, marketing and communication functions. “Jeanne Stangel has been a wonderful ambassador for UWGB,” commented Chancellor Gary L. Miller. “What she has accomplished — in terms of rallying community and alumni support for student scholarships, academic enhancements and campus facilities — has made a tangible difference in the lives of our students. We extend our great appreciation to her for all she has done, and wish her the best as she accepts this new challenge. It has been a great honor to work with her. She is a great professional.” A native of the Algoma area and a 1987 graduate of UW-Green Bay’s Business Administration program, Stangel has held a variety of positions with the University over 25 years as a student, administrator and advocate. For more.

Michelle McQuade Dewhirst, associate professor of Music, earned an invitation to the 2015 Mid-Missouri Composers Symposium. She is in residence at the Osage Arts Community, an arts retreat located in rural central Missouri, from July 15 to 22. She will be making a public presentation on her music, taking part in panel discussions and using the time to work on her current musical projects.

Prof. Meir Russ of the Cofrin School of Business recently presented a Ph.D. student seminar at the Doctorate in “Economia Aziendale e Management” program at the University of Pisa, Italy. His July 7 seminar was titled “An Introduction to Human Capital 2.0”. He also discussed potential collaboration in research studies with colleagues at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna- Istituto di Management, Pisa, Italy.

Associate Prof. Lora Warner of Public and Environmental Affairs is the author of the article “Catalytic Funding, Partnership, Evaluation, and Advocacy: Innovation Strategies for Community Impact,” published in The Foundation Review: Vol. 7: Iss. 2, (Article 8). You can read a summary at the journal archive.

Prof. Harvey Kaye continues his busy schedule of progressive talk show appearances. He’ll talk “American Social Democracy” as a phone-in guest of a New Hampshire radio station at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday the 9th. Also, he’ll begin a standing 30-minute, biweekly gig on the national Nicole Sandler internet radio show, starting at 10:30 a.m. CDT Thursday the 9th.

About 150 campus and community friends gathered at the Shorewood clubhouse Monday (July 6) to honor Dan Spielmann as he retires as chancellor’s chief of staff after a nearly 40-year career as one of UW-Green Bay’s most high-profile and longest-serving administrators and faculty members.

Chancellor Gary L. Miller and former Chancellor Tom Harden shared brief remarks. Miller read from a legislative proclamation introduced by state Rep. Eric Ginrich and Sen. Dave Hansen. It praised Spielmann for his record of achievement including his service as Phoenix Athletics director during the program’s rise as an NCAA Division I contender, his role as legal counsel and policy adviser to all six chancellors, his effectiveness as a community and legislative liaison, his passion for teaching, and his involvement in University fundraising, among other contributions. The citation also noted Spielmann’s long working relationship with former Associate Chancellor Donald Harden, his association with hall of fame coaches Dick Bennett, Carol Hammerle and Aldo Santaga, and his positive interactions with individuals both on and off campus.

Spielmann was presented with gifts including the Legislature’s proclamation, a large framed aerial view of the UW-Green Bay campus and a travel bag, among other items. In expressing appreciation to the friends and colleagues in attendance, he talked about leaving his Madison legal practice as a young attorney in 1976 to join the faculty of the young UWGB… and never regretting the move despite the challenges of his new position(s). Spielmann closed his remarks by thanking Liz, his wife of 42 years, and sons Kurt and Jeff (who attended with his infant daughter).

Andrew Austin, an associate professor and chair of Democracy and Justice Studies at UW-Green Bay, is quoted at the end of an International Business Times article about Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to move academic tenure from state statutes to Board of Regents control. Headlined “Scott Walker Tenure Controversy,” the article quotes a range of observers including faculty members worried about new language that would allow for the release of tenured professors when it is “deemed necessary due to a budget or program decision requiring program discontinuance, curtailment, modification or redirection.” Austin’s quote: “Tenure protections set in law tell the rest of the country that Wisconsin is committed to upholding academic freedom and sees tenure as a crucial asset in attracting the best professionals around the world and keeping them here in Wisconsin. Why shouldn’t we be a model for the nation? The state is already losing some of its finest faculty, which means an exodus of research moneys from the state. It will lose a great deal more if tenure protections are removed or weakened. If economic and social developments are valuable things to Wisconsinites, then retention of strong tenure language is essential.” To read the full article.